CITY MILK PLANTS: CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT. 5 



largely by truck, the vicinity where most of the milk comes into the 

 city would be a convenient location. In case a large proportion of 

 the milk is to be handled as bulk goods or wholesale deliveries, the 

 wholesale section would have the advantage. If branch plants are to 

 be established it may be well to locate the main plant where it can 

 most easily receive the milk from the railroads. It is much less ex- 

 pensive to transfer bulk goods by truck than bottled goods, so that 

 many dealers find it advantageous to have a main plant where most 

 of the milk is received and to have branch plants near centers of dis- 

 tribution. Usually most of the trade of the branch plants is retail, 

 while the down-town plant handles the greater portion of the whole- 

 sale trade. One plant having two branch plants had routes as fol- 

 lows: 





Wholesale 

 routes. 



Retail 

 routes. 





12 

 4 

 3 



39 

 26 

 28 









By locating the r)lant near the center of distribution, delivery 

 costs may be considerably lessened and in some cases two delivery 

 trips may be made during the day. 



Some dealers plan to establish the main plant in or near the section 

 of the city where considerable development is anticipated. In this 

 way they endeavor to obtain the trade of people moving into that 

 section and the plant itself acts as an advertisement. 



To serve as an advertising medium the plant must be situated 

 where there is considerable travel, as in a retail shopping district, or 

 at a street-car transfer point. The value of this form of advertising 

 depends upon local conditions. In a small city it may be of consider- 

 able importance. The retail counter cash trade is usually of small 

 importance in a large city, but in a small or medium-sized town this 

 trade is often well worth considering. A plant on a much-traveled 

 highway should draw this trade. 



In few cities is there difficulty in getting an adequate supply of 

 water and electricity, but, nevertheless, it is well to consider these 

 items. Congestion of traffic is of small consequence in a small town, 

 but in a large city it may assume considerable importance. 



Good drainage for the plant and clean surroundings are essential 

 for an up-to-date plant. Some plants are opposite parks and the air 

 is very free from dust, while at plants in a thickly settled part of 

 the city it is often necessary to filter the air that comes into the 

 building. 



In general, there are three locations in cities that may be selected 

 for a milk plant: (1) In the wholesale district near the railroad, 



